Stocks edge higher on earnings, deal news

5/1/2014

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Specialist Glenn Carell, foreground, works with traders at the post that handles Under Armour on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, at the closing bell, Wednesday, April 30, 2014. The Dow Jones industrial average is closed at an all-time high, with a gain of 45 points to 16,580, four points above the record high it set on Dec. 31.(AP Photo)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK — Stocks are edging mostly higher as investors respond to more earnings gains at U.S. companies and hope for more deals.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 index rose two points, or 0.1 percent, to 1,886 as of noon today.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose two points, just 0.02 percent, to 16,583. The Dow set an all-time high the day before.

Technology stocks rose more than the rest of the market. The Nasdaq gained 25 points, or 0.6 percent, to 4,140.

Dish Network climbed 5 percent after the Wall Street Journal reported that AT&T had approached the satellite TV company about an acquisition.

MasterCard and Yelp rose after reporting results that were better than investors were expecting.